H.R. 8730

Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026

Sponsor: John R. Moolenaar

144 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026

This bill prohibits the importation, manufacture, sale, resale, or introduction into U.S. interstate commerce of connected vehicles and related software and hardware components associated with China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea.

Connected vehicle means a vehicle that (1) integrates onboard networked hardware with automotive software systems to communicate with any other network or device using certain methods (e.g., wireless spectrum connectivity); or (2) is designed, manufactured, or originally equipped to communicate via such methods, regardless of whether such capability is enabled, disabled, or removed at the time the vehicle enters the United States.

Current regulations administered by the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) prohibit transactions involving vehicle connectivity system hardware and covered software designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of China or Russia.

The bill expands the BIS regulatory framework, including by (1) expanding the countries covered by the prohibition to include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (Current BIS regulations apply only to China and Russia.); and (2) specifying that certain artificial intelligence components are covered by the prohibition.

By January 1, 2027, BIS must publish a list of items that are authorized for the importation, manufacture, sale, resale, or introduction into U.S. interstate commerce and would otherwise be subject to the bill's prohibition.

The bill also includes enforcement mechanisms, including that BIS must assess civil penalties for violations of the prohibition.

Text of the bill

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Sec. 2. Findings

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The United States automotive industry is critical to the national economy, supporting millions of jobs, supply chains, and advanced manufacturing. The introduction of vehicles and components controlled by foreign adversaries threatens United States economic security, industrial competitiveness, and technological leadership.

(2) The People’s Republic of China has rapidly expanded its automotive manufacturing capacity and is increasingly targeting export markets. Despite having the largest market in the world, the People's Republic of China exports nearly 8,000,000 vehicles annually, approximately twice the volume exported by any other country, demonstrating the scale at which vehicles and components controlled by a foreign adversary may enter global markets, including the United States.

(3) Connected vehicles incorporate advanced information and communications technologies that collect, process, and transmit vast amounts of sensitive data, including geolocation, operational, and personal information, and are capable of being remotely accessed and controlled.

(4) In Executive Order 13873 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to securing the information and communications technology and services supply chain), the President declared a national emergency with respect to the threat posed by foreign adversaries creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in information and communications technology and services.

(5) The access, control, or influence of vehicle connectivity systems or automated driving systems by foreign adversaries creates substantial economic and national security risks to the United States, including risks of surveillance, espionage, cyber intrusion, and disruption of critical infrastructure. Such risks fall within the scope of the national emergency described in Executive Order 13873 and pose an unacceptable threat to the security and resilience of the United States.